Ta'ameya
If you love falafel, you must try this Egyptian ta'ameya recipe, which gives you those falafel flavours with its own unique twist.
Ta'ameya is the Egyptian version of a falafel, which uses fava beans (a.k.a. broad beans) instead of chickpeas. It still has a falafel-like flavour, but the fava beans give this recipe a lovely texture that makes it distinct from typical falafel.
It can be served the same way as falafel (on a pita with lettuce, tomato and tahini), but many also enjoy these on their own with pickled vegetables, or chilli sauce on the side. When enjoying these on pita bread, I like to replace the tahini with a nice dollop of fresh tzatziki or cucumber riata.
Ta'ameya can also be stuffed with caramelized onions, or other vegetables. In some parts of Egypt, they stuff ta'ameya with chillies making them spicy. This is of course optional, and not included in the calorie calculations for this recipe.
If you want to lower the fat content, try these baked instead of deep fried.
If you give these a try and enjoyed them, or are familiar with these and have a different twist to your recipe, please comment below and share your ideas and tips with the rest of our readers.
TIP: To lower the fat content, bake these instead of frying. Preheat the oven to 400°F / 200°C and spread ta'ameya patties in a single layer on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper. Brown both sides by baking for 10 to 12 minutes, then flip the patties and bake for an additional 10 to 12 minutes. Watch closely and be careful not to burn the patties.
Ingredients
(Makes 8 servings | Serving size = 2 ta'ameya)
2 cups dried fava beans, soaked in water
1/2 small sweet onion, chopped
1/2 cup green onion, chopped
1/2 cup fresh parsley
1/2 cup fresh coriander (or cilantro)
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 teaspoons ground coriander
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon chilli powder (optional)
1/2 cup sesame seeds
avocado oil (or vegetable oil)
Directions
In a sealable container soak the fava beans in water overnight. Rinse, drain and dry the beans well.
In a food processor combine the fava beans, onion, green onion, fresh parsley, fresh coriander, garlic, ground coriander, salt, cumin, baking powder and chilli powder (optional). Process until this mixture becomes dough-like. If the mixture turns out too dry to hold together with a dough-like consistency, add a little water (teaspoon at a time) until the mixture is able to hold together.
Form the fava bean mixture into 1" balls then flatten into patties and press sesame seeds onto both sides.
In a large sauté pan heat about 1/2" of oil over medium heat. Fry the patties in batches until they turn golden brown and become crispy on both sides. Place on a plate with paper towels to absorb excess oil.
Serve and enjoy.
Nutritional Information Per Serving:
total calories = 186 | total fat = 14.35g | saturated fat = 2.37g | cholesterol = 0mg | sodium = 469.6mg | carbohydrates = 11.72g | dietary fibre = 3.13g | sugars = 2.06g | protein = 3.86g
